Women’s Football

The global increase in viewership of and participation in women’s football means that, to continue with this growth, we need to appreciate the specific scientific and health issues that determine successful performance for women. Women’s Football provides a thorough, yet straightforward and accessible, analysis of the key physiological, biomechanical and social-psychological issues that can be applied to achieve women’s footballing development.

This cutting-edge text puts developing elite women footballers at the front and centre of its core aim, through the delivery of evidence-based, scientific information focusing on best practice. As such, each chapter is co-written, where possible, by a scholar and a practitioner or player (e.g., coach, footballer), meaning the scientific principles and research presented within are translated clearly into practice.

Women’s Football is essential reading for anyone who is involved with the game, including footballers themselves, as well as strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, medics, nutritionists, sport psychologists, sports scientists, coaches, coach developers, technical directors, general managers, governing body personnel and club owners, from grassroots to elite level. The book is also invaluable to students and academics in sport and exercise, who are studying this topic.

Jacky Forsyth, PhD is an exercise physiologist, and has worked in various roles in academia, undertaking both teaching and researching. Her main priority and drive in research are about promoting, raising awareness and advancing understanding of the key influences which impact women in sport and exercise. She has published research articles on improving the health and exercise status of pre- and post-menopausal women. She co-founded the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network with Claire-Marie Roberts for the purposes of connecting like-minded academics to promote and strengthen research into women in sport and exercise.

Claire-Marie Roberts, PhD is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and a BASES Accredited Sport & Exercise Scientist who is the Performance Director at Coventry City Football Club. She has worked in various roles in men’s and women’s professional football for 20 years, including nearly a decade at the Premier League leading transformational change in elite football development. She is a senior research fellow at the University of the West of England, a special advisor to Nike on women athletes, and a Trustee of Restart - the official charity of The Rugby Players Association dedicated to supporting elite men’s and women’s rugby players suffering from serious injury, illness or hardship. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed research articles and has authored and edited three books.